Man used dogs’ injuries to get pain pills in ‘disturbing’ case of animal cruelty, police say

GUILFORD, Conn. – Police arrested a man accused of animal cruelty after he allegedly used his dogs' injuries to get pain pills from numerous veterinarians in Connecticut.

Police in the town of Guilford arrested 33 year-old James Cunnington, of New Haven, but the investigation has since expanded to other parts of the state.

Authorities say Cunnington was using his two dogs to try to help him get prescription drugs. The dogs are now in the care of Animal Control, and Cunnington went before a judge on Friday.

“A gentleman had come in looking for some treatment for one of his dogs and looking for pain killers for that dog,” said Butch Hyatt, deputy chief of the Guilford Police Department. "The injuries were initially treated and the treatment – either stitches or staples – would mysteriously be removed – again intentionally or accidentally – we don’t know, and then he would again go to another veterinarian and try to get painkillers."

According to court documents, Cunnington took his dogs to various veterinary offices, each time with a different story – even going so far as using a fake name and claiming he was from South Carolina, and that his dogs were injured evacuating from the recent storm.

"The whole fraud component of the whole thing – it makes for a good story," said Hyatt. "Taking the disaster that was occurring and what people had to deal with down south, putting it into his own fraud to create the story so that he could get those drugs."

Police said that within ten days, Cunnington visited five different vets with two different dogs. His story was usually similar in nature, and once he'd gotten the drugs, he would call later that day, saying his car was broken into and the drugs stolen.

"Our investigation found that he had done this at a number of veterinary offices and was using the drugs for his own addiction," said Hyatt.

Court records show some these instances date back to June, but most happened in September.

"It isn't new to use those kinds of drugs," said Hyatt. "Many times we would see veterinary offices getting burglarized and those drugs stolen, but to go to the extent of using a dog that is either injured or that you’re injuring, and to try to get drugs for yourself, is very disturbing."

As more vets became suspicious of Cunnington's stories and behavior, different agencies were contacted.

"We have seen a lot of different things that people have done," said Hyatt. "It is scary to think what people have done so far, and scary to think what they may do in the future, to try to get drugs to feed their own addictions."

Court documents show that from June 4 to September 20, Cunnington had 14 different prescriptions from nine different prescribers, which were filled at ten different locations.

Hyatt said Monday that the dogs are in good condition have been treated.

Cunnington is out of police custody on a promise to appear in court on November 19.